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Differentials, axles and driveshaft problems
You never know when a problem can come up with your car. If it does, contact Gloucester Road Gearboxes for advice.
Differential problems
The differential is a device that splits the engine torque two ways, allowing each output to spin at a different speed. There are various situations that can create differential noise which indicates a problem.
Howling of gears could mean wearing. Howling under acceleration at various speeds indicates the gears are already worn out or are out of alignment or depth with each other. If noise occurs while accelerating the car at a certain speed, it is likely the gears have become worn due to overloading and lubrication failure.
However, if you notice howling occurring in deceleration, it is a good indication that the pinion-bearing preload has loosened.
Call us to arrange a no obligation test drive with one of our fully qualified mechanics.
Axle problems
Shuddering when accelerating, a clunking sound when shifting gears, vibration at any speed, squeaking at low speeds or a knocking sound when in motion could indicate you have an axle problem.
Axle problems can be caused by a loose or damaged U-joint, defective carrier bearing, an out of balance or bent axle shaft or a lack of lubrication.
In rear wheel drive vehicles, the engine turns a drive shaft which transmits a rational force to a drive axle at the rear of the vehicle.
Driveshaft
A driveshaft is the cylindrical shaft that transmits the torque from the engine to the wheels. They are most commonly found on rear wheel drive vehicles, and connect the rear of the transmission to the driveshaft. As the output shaft of the transmission rotates, it spins the driveshaft, which then turns the differential ring gear to rotate the wheels.
Driveshafts are a very precisely balanced and weighted component, due to the fact that they rotate at very high speeds and torque values in order to turn the wheels.
When the driveshaft has any issue it can cause problems that can affect the drivability of the vehicle. Usually a problem with the driveshaft will produce abnormal noises such as rattling, clunking or scraping.
